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The U.S. Has No Global Strategy
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Former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates points out in this intervew with Holman Jenkins of the WSJ, that Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, who worsened Shiite-Sunni relations, was the principal cause of the unraveling that happened in Iraq during the first term of U.S. president Obama. He says President Obama failed to do what was done by president Bush to persist and obtain Status of Forces Agreement with Iraq, to maintain a U.S. foce presence in Iraq. Presence of U.S. forces would have prevented the spread of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. U.S. force presence would have provided a more even handed treatment of Sunnis in the region, creating the conditions for peace by having Sunnis, Kurds and Shiites continue talks about the future of Iraq. Gates grew up in Kansas in the 1950's, attended the College of William and Mary for undergraduate studies, studied Russian and Soviet history in grad school at Indiana University and Georgetown University, before joining the CIA. Gates was selected by Brzezinski to work in the White House, worked under Brent Snowcroft, and as head of the CIA (1991-1993) during the elder Bush administration. He was Secretary of Defense from 2006-2011, under presidents George Bush and Barack Obama, succeeding Donald Rumsfeld. He was succeeded by Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel, and Ashton Carter.
Two scenes-of Gates and Sgt. Hyland- and the knot that ties them together.
01/05/2009
Two scenes stay in one's memory. One on a rainy night in March with Defense Sec. Gates at an airforce base in Delaware. The other with 5 amputees returning to locations in Diyala province, near Baghdad, which they left in agony or unconscious. And Sgt. Hyland kneeling in the battalion hall in front of a picture of Specialist Jonathan who saved his life and breaking out in tears. The sacrifices of U.S. military families in the 2 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Grouped Articles
Gates Faults Obama Over Afghanistan
Wall Street Journal 01/08/2014
Foreign Affairs 01/05/2009
Former Defense Secretary Gates Is Elected President of the Boy Scouts
New York Times 05/22/2014
Iraq’s Military Seen as Unlikely to Turn the Tide
New York Times 06/22/2014
Relief Over U.S. Exit From Iraq Fades as Reality Overtakes Hope
New York Times 06/22/2014
The U.S. Has No Global Strategy
Wall Street Journal 02/01/2016
Hillary Clinton's (also Panetta, Gates. Gen. Jones) differences with U.S. president Obama on Iraq, Afghanistan and the U.S. role in the world
08/11/2014
Grouped Articles
A Rift in Worldviews Is Exposed as Clinton Faults Obama on Policy
New York Times 08/11/2014
Hillary Clinton, Barbed and Bellicose
New York Times 08/11/2014
New York Times 08/11/2014
With Maliki Out of the Picture, U.S. Prepares to Boost Iraq Aid
Wall Street Journal 08/16/2014
How to Save Iraq and Honor American Sacrifice
Wall Street Journal 08/15/2014
Amplified by Social Media, Insider Memoirs Make More Racket
New York Times 10/07/2014
U.S. Defense Secretary Gates
01/05/2009
Grouped Articles
Gates Faults Obama Over Afghanistan
Wall Street Journal 01/08/2014
Foreign Affairs 01/05/2009
Former Defense Secretary Gates Is Elected President of the Boy Scouts
New York Times 05/22/2014
The U.S. Has No Global Strategy
Wall Street Journal 02/01/2016
The Libya Mission Was 'Never About Regime Change'
Wall Street Journal 03/27/2011
Wall Street Journal 06/01/2011
A look back and insights from former U.S. Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, about Russia and Islamic terrorism not being the threats the way they are perceived
01/05/2009
A detailed look at Russia and Islamic terrorism from Gates that provides perspective and insights beyond the daily headlines about Russia (Georgia, then Crimea) and Islamic terrorists (in Iraq and the Middle East). Two critical points made by Gates about Russia- Russia lacks the capabilities it once had, and the demographics in Russia of a declining population which limit its influence. He sees Georgia, (and possibly Crimea) in the light of Russia exorcizing past humiliations something that Putin has repeatedly referred to in his speeches. The perspective also opens up thinking about what to look for in the future including surprises around the corner. By 2014 for example relations between countries in Asia had deteriorated regarding island disputes.
Grouped Articles
Pentagon Chief Sees Opportunities In Russia and the War on Terrorism
Washington Post 01/05/2009
In Cold War Echo, Obama Strategy Writes Off Putin
New York Times 04/19/2014
U.S.-Russia Relations Come Full Circle After Ukraine
Wall Street Journal 04/21/2014
Promises of ‘Fresh Start’ for U.S.-Russia Relations
New York Times 04/02/2009
Former Defense Secretary Gates Is Elected President of the Boy Scouts
New York Times 05/22/2014
This Is Just a Date, Not a Marriage
Wall Street Journal 06/03/2014
Robert Gates on reshaping the Pentagon for a new period
01/05/2009
Defense Secretary Gates gives his vision for changes to the Defense Department.
Grouped Articles
Foreign Affairs 01/05/2009
Pentagon Chief Sees Opportunities In Russia and the War on Terrorism
Washington Post 01/05/2009
The U.S. Has No Global Strategy
Wall Street Journal 02/01/2016
The U.S., EU and Islamic terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan- An Alternate view from Gates for 2014-2016
01/05/2009
Former Defense Secretary Gates offers an alternate view about how Islamic terrorism happened and how it should be seen in a larger context of the post war years.
Grouped Articles
Pentagon Chief Sees Opportunities In Russia and the War on Terrorism
Washington Post 01/05/2009
Fareed Zakaria: Let’s be honest, Islam has a problem right now - The Washington Post
Washington Post 10/10/2014
The U.S. Has No Global Strategy
Wall Street Journal 02/01/2016
The point back in 2011 when the beginnings of the unraveling of Iraq (and Syria) took place- Former U.S. Defense Secretary, Robert Gates's reference to the role of Iraq's prime minister Nuri al-Maiki and sectarianism
12/27/2011
Linked Articles
How to Save Iraq From Civil War
New York Times 12/27/2011
The U.S. Has No Global Strategy
Wall Street Journal 02/01/2016
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